Artist Talk: Phillip Toledano

Overview

Conceptual artist Phillip Toledano presents his latest work and will be joined by Nisha Merit, Managing Editor of Sleek Magazine, for a conversation about photography in the era of AI and its responsibility. The conversation is hosted by Marie-Luise Meyer, Exhibitions Manager Fotografiska Berlin.

For much of its history, photography functioned as evidence - a guarantee that something must have existed in order to be seen. With the rise of artificial intelligence, that promise has been fundamentally unsettled. Images now emerge without event, camera, or witness, challenging not only authorship, but the very conditions under which truth is constructed.

In his ongoing body of work Historical Surrealism, Toledano explores this shift by inventing visual histories that feel emotionally and aesthetically persuasive. As part of this evening, he will present his latest works from the series - shown here for the first time - and reflect on how fiction, memory, and technology intersect in his practice.

Together, Toledano and Merit will discuss AI not as a distant threat, but as a present creative tool: What does authorship mean when images are generated? How do media and cultural institutions navigate credibility in an era where everything appears possible? And are we witnessing a rupture in photography’s history or its logical continuation?

An evening dedicated to storytelling, doubt, and critical reflection in the age of synthetic imagery.

Image credit: © Phillip Toledano

About the artist

Phillip Toledano (b. 1968, London) is an American artist based in New York. His conceptual practice spans photography, sculpture, installation, and the use of new technologies. At the heart of his work are questions of identity, memory, truth, and the cultural narratives that shape how we see ourselves and others. He gained international acclaim with Days With My Father (2006–2009), a deeply personal exploration of dementia, loss, and family bonds. In recent years, he has emerged as a pioneer in the artistic use of artificial intelligence, employing speculative imagery to challenge the "truth" of the photographic record. His work has been shown internationally, including major solo exhibitions such as The Day Will Come When Man Falls, at Haus der Photographie in Hamburg’s Deichtorhallen.

About the guest

Nisha Merit is an independent curator and writer who builds networks across disciplines and geographies. Over the past ten years, she has lived and worked in Johannesburg, South Africa, developing an international practice of exhibition-making and collaboration. She is currently the managing editor of SLEEK Magazine in Berlin.

Schedule

• 18:30 – Doors open
• 19:00 – Talk and Q&A
• 20:00 – Wrap up

Tickets

• 15 € – Talk (Incl. Museum Entry)
• 0 € – Members